NR - all your vintage watches seem to be in perfect condition (dial, case, hands, markers...). Do you buy them like this or do you have them refinished or refurbished?

Nice watch BTW. Never came across Lucien Piccard before - any details on the brand?

I've been pretty lucky with my vintage watches so far. You can see a few marks on the dial of the LP and there are a few tiny dings in the case, but it's really not bad at all for what I guess is a late '50s model. I did not have the dial refinished.

I don't know much about Lucien Piccard, but from what several people have told me, it was once a fairly well regarded Swiss watch. Of course, the build quality is nowhere near on par with the same brands we know and love from the same era. The jeweler who overhauled it pointed out to me that the lugs are welded on instead of cast, for instance. They are almost impossible to find parts for but not valuable enough to have parts made.

Still, for a total outlay of around $350, it's a good deal for a 14kt. watch that keeps good time.

You obviously don't shop where I do. While I have little doubts that they once made nice mechanicals with tasteful design - if NR vintage piece is any indication, the modern Lucien Piccard makes nothing but cheap quartz fashion watches and a few 'homage' auto (a la Invicta, Croton et al), all Asian made of course. Seems like the old watchmaker went bankrupt and got bought out by some marketing firm...

I finally read through this thread for the first time last night after all the watches in the waywt threads started piquing my long dormant watch lust. I was reminded that my closest friend had a sideline in vintage watches almost 20 years ago, when we were both very young. He was an oddity in that world - a 22 year old trading in vintage watches, going to the shows, buying and selling - but he'd been working in antiques for a few years and he had a good eye so it was a natural evolution. Anyways, I picked up a few watches from him then. Mostly novelties and inexpensive vintage American brands. Reading this thread reminded me of the watches he had then that I had no interest in - very old Rolexes and Omegas and Longines, plus old military and pilot watches. He really could have gotten me anything I wanted, at cheap wholesale (he was buying from estates and refused to make a profit from me), but most of those watches seemed too expensive to me or, mostly, too conservative and "old man" style. Sigh. I really blew it. This is the only watch I have remaining from that time. A very old (1920's?) Waltham with an enameled bezel. The enamel is chipping away and, IIRC, it can't be fixed. He sent it to a guy in Boston many years ago that was a specialist in this kind of repair and he couldn't do anything with it. I don't remember why. It's a bit small on my wrist these days, but is has a certain charm. I does keep time pretty well. Also, for Labelking, here's a closeup of the band, which is NOS African Elephant that I got from my friend about 20 years ago. Here is the enamel detail on the side of the case:

Some of the leather straps were very stiff and seemed cheap on a few watches. It was nice becuase a lot of the watches looked like they might be light; but, were actually had a nice weight to them.
I looked at:
Schaumburg AquaBlack2 (I think I'm getting that next month for Christmas)...a nice hefty piece and the strap is interesting as being water resistant leather. I think there is a rubber strap with it too.
Sinn Luftansa...thought it would be slightly larger; but, had a nice weight to it and really liked it on my wrist
Sinn Regulateur fit like a DREAM on my wrist; but, I'm a bit more excited to see the new version coming out
Also checked out a few of the skeletons and handmade models which were nice to see that in person the detailing and the finishing don't just photograph well...they are very beautiful in person.

I think they are coming back in the Spring and you should go and check it out.

I also went to Torneau before (52nd/Mad, the Show was at the Palace) and tried on the Breguet Marine on the rubber strap (very narrow) and was very let down. The steel bracelet on it is much nicer. I also played with the GO rose gold black face Sport Evo on the nylon strap and it is fucking, yes fucking, gorgeous.

First post. Wish I could show off a picture of me wearing my Chronoswiss Orea but I'll have to settle for a stock photo.

The Orea went missing a month ago (presumed stolen) so I've had to file an insurance claim. It was a beautiful watch for the time I had it; I loved the thin profile and the 30mm size plus the classic look. It is sorrily missed.

However, I still have my daily beater, a Victorinox Ambassador automatic.